Welcome to Bradford Beacon School.
It is a great privilege to introduce you to our vibrant and nurturing school community. At Bradford Beacon, we are proud to be a happy, nurturing, and ambitious school with high expectations for every child.
Our school is designed to successfully meet the needs of pupils with autism, including those with additional learning or sensory needs, aged 4 to 11. We believe that every child deserves to feel valued, understood, and supported to reach their full potential.
The pupils of Bradford Beacon School are at the heart of everything we do. Our dedicated staff team bring empathy, enthusiasm, and expertise to their work each day, creating a warm and stimulating learning environment where children feel safe, empowered, and ready to learn. It is their passion and care that makes Bradford Beacon such a special place, and our pupils inspire us in all that we do.
At Bradford Beacon, we dream big, work hard, and celebrate every success, no matter how small. I warmly invite you to explore our website to learn more about our school, and I encourage you to get in touch if you would like to arrange a visit. We would be delighted to welcome you.
Ed Hall; Chair of Governor’s and Regional Director
Helen Rigby; Executive Head Teacher
I feel very fortunate to have spent over 30 years working in education, with my career dedicated to supporting children and young people with special educational needs. From the moment I qualified as a teacher, I knew that special education was where my passion lay, and that passion continues to shape everything I do today.
I am proud to be the Executive Head Teacher of Bradford Beacon School, alongside two other schools within the company. Throughout my career, I have had the privilege of leading a range of specialist settings, including several independent special schools and a Secure School supporting some of the most vulnerable children in the country. These experiences have taught me that, behind every pupil, there is a unique individual with their own strengths, hopes, challenges and potential.
In my role as Executive Head Teacher, I provide the strategic leadership and overall direction for our school, ensuring that we continue to deliver the highest standards of education, care and opportunity for every pupil. I work closely with our governing body and senior leaders to shape our long-term vision, drive continuous improvement and, most importantly, ensure that our values are reflected in everything we do.
For me, education is about so much more than academic achievement. It is about building confidence, developing independence, discovering strengths and helping every young person to believe in themselves. I am passionate about teaching and learning and about creating schools where pupils feel safe, valued, understood and, most importantly, inspired to achieve things they may not have believed possible.
I believe that every child and young person can succeed when we take the time to understand them, recognise what they can do and provide the right support and opportunities to help them flourish. My role is to ensure that our schools have the highest aspirations for every pupil and that our staff have the support, knowledge and encouragement to make a real difference.
I am incredibly proud of the pupils and staff within our schools and of the sense of community we continue to build. Above all, I want every young person who comes through our doors to leave believing in themselves, knowing that they matter and feeling confident about their future.
I also believe that strong partnerships with families are essential. Working together, sharing experiences and maintaining open communication helps us to understand each young person as an individual and provide the very best support for them. I look forward to working closely with you throughout your child’s journey with us.
Thank you for choosing our school. I am delighted to welcome you and look forward to supporting your child as they learn, grow and succeed.
Carla Adams – McCoy; Acting Head Teacher
Carla brings a wealth of experience and passion to our team. She holds a Masters in Education from The University of Salford and a National Professional Qualification for Headship, further complemented by her postgraduate studies at Manchester Metropolitan University. Since embarking on her teaching career in 2011 in the UK, Carla has been deeply committed to working with children. Before returning to the UK, she taught English in South Korea and taught voluntarily in India, broadening her international teaching experience.
Carla’s expertise extends to establishing and managing an 18-place Autism resourced provision and leading a two-form primary school, previously leading a primary school in Trafford. She has a proven track record of working closely with pupils from diverse backgrounds, addressing a wide range of learning and behavioural needs. Additionally, Carla’s commitment to education extends beyond the classroom, as she has served as a trustee for an educational charity in Greater Manchester.
Carla is excited to grow our school community, continuously striving to provide high-quality education and support to our students.
Bridgeen Whittle; Senior Deputy Head
Senior Deputy Headteacher, I am from Northern Ireland; I have a degree in IT from St Martins College and a Master’s in special educational needs from University of Chester. I have lots of personal and professional experience with people who have cognitive and physical differences as well as people who have very complex medical needs. I have been a teacher in special education since 2003. I have worked with children and young people from 4-19 who have a wide range of needs and cultural backgrounds. I love my job, and I love to see other people develop their confidence and skills and so I strived to become a school leader. I also have enthusiasm for communication, positive wellbeing and creative problem solving.
Beth Pascoe; Deputy Headteacher
Beth Pascoe joined Bradford Beacon School in September 2025, having worked as a SENDCo and Assistant Headteacher across two primary schools for several years. She brings with her a wealth of experience working with and supporting students who have benefitted from adapted and specialist curriculums.
Holly Todd; Pastoral Lead, Careers & EVC
